There are few birds that can frustrate backyard birders more than the common House Sparrow. While native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, House Sparrows were introduced to North America in the mid-1800s and have become one of the most widely distributed and abundant birds on the continent.
Unfortunately, their abundance comes at the expense of many native birds that are in competition with House Sparrows for food and nesting sites. House Sparrows are aggressive and will chase away other birds from feeders and take over nest boxes meant for native species like bluebirds. They can also spread disease and parasites.
Many bird lovers end up wanting to exclude House Sparrows from their yards while still being able to attract other more desirable backyard birds. A sparrow proof bird feeder that allows smaller native birds access while keeping the larger House Sparrows out is an excellent solution.
What makes House Sparrows difficult to exclude from bird feeders?
House Sparrows present several challenges when trying to exclude them from feeders:
- They are persistent – House Sparrows will not give up easily in their attempts to get to a feeder.
- They are resourceful – Their intelligence allows them to problem solve and figure out ways to access feeders.
- They are small – Many deterrents are sized for excluding larger birds so House Sparrows can get through.
- They travel in flocks – Groups of House Sparrows working together can overwhelm feeders.
The ideal anti-sparrow bird feeder must effectively prevent access by a clever, tiny bird that tends to show up in numbers.
Bird feeder design elements that discourage House Sparrows
Certain design elements can make a bird feeder less welcoming to House Sparrows:
Restricted openings
Openings must be sized to allow small native birds to pass through but prevent House Sparrows. Circular openings 1 1/8 inches in diameter work well. Oval openings 1 1/4 inches high by 1 inch wide are also effective.
Feeder placement
House Sparrows prefer to feed on or near the ground. Elevating feeders on poles makes it harder for them to access. Feeders should be at least 5-6 feet off the ground.
Slick/smooth surfaces
Smooth plastic or metal surfaces without any grip make it difficult for House Sparrows to cling onto feeders.
Moving/spinning perches
Perches that spin or move up and down when a House Sparrow lands on them will discourage them from staying.
Upside down feeding
Feeders designed for birds to cling onto and feed upside down are hard for House Sparrows to use comfortably.
Weighted perches
Perches that are weighted to only move down with the greater weight of a House Sparrow prevent them from having a place to perch.
Penetrable seed cages
Wire mesh cages allow smaller birds to reach seeds but keeps House Sparrows out.
Reviews of popular sparrow proof bird feeders
Here are reviews of some top rated bird feeders for deterring House Sparrows:
Songbird Essentials Seed Tube Feeder
This tube feeder has excellent features for limiting access by House Sparrows. The wire mesh cage with 0.625 inch openings allows small birds like finches, chickadees, and nuthatches to reach the seeds but prevents larger birds from entering. It also has a removable rain guard capped by a cylindrical dome to stop squirrels. The Songbird Essentials Seed Tube Feeder can hold up to 1.4 quarts of seed.
Perky-Pet No/No RSVP Feeder
The No/No RSVP feeder by Perky-Pet is specially designed to exclude House Sparrows and larger birds like grackles and blackbirds. Birds have to cling onto four feeding ports on the bottom to access the seed. House Sparrows struggle with the upside down feeding position. Weighing just 1 pound when empty, the feeder can conveniently be hung from a tree branch.
Brome 1057 Squirrel Buster Standard Wild Bird Feeder
This popular squirrel-proof bird feeder uses an effective closing mechanism to prevent larger birds and squirrels from feeding. When something heavy lands on the metal perch, it instantly closes off the seed ports. The green color and lack of places for House Sparrows to perch also makes it less attractive to them. Holds up to 5 lbs of birdseed.
Stokes Select Seed Space Chamber Bird Feeder
The Space Chamber feeder from Stokes Select has a spring loaded double wall that flexes under House Sparrow weight but stays open for smaller birds. Feeding birds don’t even need to perch since the design allows them to cling to the exterior cage. A removable mesh base aids cleaning. 2.4 pound seed capacity.
Do-it-yourself sparrow proof feeder options
For a lower cost solution, you can convert traditional feeders to be more House Sparrow proof:
Add wire mesh cylinders
Cover plastic tube feeders with 1/2 inch metal hardware cloth secured top and bottom with bungee cords. Cut access holes aligned with the existing feeder openings.
Install PVC feeder tubes
Short lengths of 1 1/4″ PVC pipe mounted over feeder ports make perfect sized entry holes for small birds. House Sparrows and larger birds won’t fit.
Try a DIY upside down feeder
You can make a simple upside down feeder by mounting a wide plastic lid over a shallow plastic container. Drill small holes spaced around the rim of the lid for birds to cling onto. Fill the container with seed.
Conclusion
With persistence and the right equipment, it is possible to successfully exclude House Sparrows while attracting desirable backyard birds. Seed tube feeders with wire mesh cages, feeders designed for upside down feeding, or DIY modifications to traditional feeders can all make your yard less accommodating to House Sparrows. Investing in a quality sparrow proof bird feeder will reward you with lively feeding activity from chickadees, finches, titmice and other favorite birds. Just be prepared to remain vigilant because House Sparrows are notoriously clever adversaries.